Laboratory Statement of Qualifications - Kappes, Cassiday ...

Kappes, Cassiday & Associates
Laboratory Statement of
Qualifications
Metallurgical Process Technology
Date:
March 2001
7950 Security Circle • Reno, Nevada 89506 • Telephone: 775 972 7575 • Facsimile: 775 972 4567 • Website: www.kcareno.com
KAPPES, CASSIDAY & ASSOCIATES
(KCA) has been performing commercial testing
services aimed at providing data for the heap leaching of
gold and silver ores since 1972.
While widely known for its heap leach expertise, KCA’s
staff is experienced with testing and designing a wide
range of metallurgical processes.
Since 1992, KCA has conducted bio-oxidation testing
programs on refractory ores for several clients in Nevada
and West Africa.
KCA’s laboratory capabilities now extend beyond its
traditional focus on gold/silver metallurgy. KCA
conducted all of the process development testwork
including pilot plant testing that formed the basis for the
very complex ITOS Chloride Leach Plant in Bolivia
which recovers silver, copper, lead and antimony.
Recently, KCA completed a US$1 million dollar
research and flowsheet development project for a
copper-silver-manganese orebody in Peru.
KCA’s laboratory services group now includes a fullservice
analytical laboratory. The analytical group is
operated commercially under the name of Florin
Analytical Services. The analytical services team offers a
wide range of analytical techniques including ICP-AES,
Flame-AAS and Fire Assay.
For additional information please contact :
Terry Albert
Kappes, Cassiday & Associates.
7950 Security Circle, Reno, Nevada 89506
Telephone: 775 972 7575
Facsimile: 775 972 4567
E-mail: TAlbert@kcareno.com
FACILITIES
KCA occupies a 40,000 square foot building that rests on three
acres of land just north of Reno, Nevada. The building, acquired
in 1994, was purchased to address the expanding needs of
Kappes, Cassiday & Associates. The laboratory division of
KCA maintains its complete sample preparation, wet-analytical
and bench-scale processing divisions within this building.
The lab is capable of receiving samples of up to 40 tonnes, on
pallets, in barrels or in bulk. Sample preparation of bulk
samples can be completed utilizing a Bobcat Front End Loader,
a large gasoline engine driven Jaw Crusher as well as smaller
laboratory-scale crushers, screen decks, mills and pulverizers.
The laboratory maintains the following major equipment items:
1– 10X12 Jaw Crusher
2-4X6 Jaw Crushers
2-10-inch Cone Crushers
2-Standard Bico Disc Grinders
2-Standard TM Ring and Puck Pulverizers
2-Gilson Screen Decks
4-Tyler Roto-taps
1-Standard Bond Ball Mill
1-Denver Lab Flotation Machine
2-WEMCO Flotation Machines
2-High Temperature Tube Furnaces
7-Jar Mill Rolling Tables
2-Perkin Elmer Flame-AAS Units
1-Perkin Elmer ICP-AES
1-Perkin Elmer Mercury Analyzer (FIMS)
1-3 inch Knelson Bowl Concentrator
1-No. 13 Wilfley Table (Sand Table)
1-Deister Table (Finishing Table)
4-Gas and or electric drying ovens
1-Flotation Pilot Plant, capacity 0.2 metric tonnes per hour
1-Williams and Wilson Fire Assay Furnace
3-Cress Fire Assay Furnaces

Laboratory Statement of Qualifications
KEY PERSONNEL
The staff at KCA constitutes a team of professionals with
varied technical abilities, especially adapted to work on
projects requiring a complete range of laboratory services.
The permanent staff consists of 35 people in the United
States, Peru and Australia. KCA has employed temporary
staff exceeding 100 people during peak periods of pilot
scale testing and field construction projects. Key
professional personnel are briefly introduced below:
DANIEL W. KAPPES, President, is a mining and
metallurgical engineer and has been associated with the
company since 1972. Dan is a recognized authority on
precious metals heap leaching and has presented several
technical papers on the subject. In addition to work on
numerous small projects, he has directed laboratory and
field testing on several projects that have subsequently
become major precious metal mines.
MICHAEL W. CASSIDAY, Vice-President, is a
metallurgical engineer and has been associated with the
company since 1978. Mike’s primary expertise is in the
management of field projects. Mike has been associated
with the management of several mining start ups and heap
leach field test projects throughout the world.
RANDALL A. PYPER, General Manager KAPPES,
CASSIDAY & ASSOCIATES AUSTRALIA (KCAA),
holds a Masters’ degree in metallurgical engineering.
Before joining the KCA staff, Randy was Chief
Metallurgist of the 2500 ton per day agitated leach plant
and 3000 ton per day heap leach facility of Carlin Gold
Mining Company (Newmont Gold Company). His earlier
professional background includes production and process
engineering for PPG industries, Lake Charles, Louisiana,
and mining chemicals technical service and development
for the Dow Chemical Company at Walnut Creek,
California.
numerous small projects, he has directed field sampling programs
and laboratory testing studies on several projects that have
subsequently become major precious metal mines.
W. ROBERT ROSE, Manager-South American Projects, is a
mining engineer with start up and operations experience in heap
leach projects for leaching both ore and tailings, and in gold placer
mines. As manager for South American projects, Bob was
involved in the design and construction supervision of the Potosi
project in Bolivia. He recently managed the preparation of two
bankable feasibility studies for heap leach operations in Mexico
for the San Francisco and Moris projects. These two projects have
subsequently received financing for the commencement of
construction.
CARL E. DEFILIPPI, Senior Engineer/Project Manager, holds a
Masters’ degree in Metallurgical Engineering and is certified as an
Environmental Manager for the State of Nevada. Prior to joining
the staff at KCA, Carl was the General Mill Foreman at Newmont
Gold Company’s 9000 ton per day CIP mill and was involved in
all phases of the start up of that mill. He had extensive experience
with Newmont Gold as a senior metallurgist at their 2500 ton per
day agitated leach plant and 3000 ton per day heap leach facility.
He has also been involved in the management and construction of
field heap leach tests in Nevada and South Dakota.
DANNY L. POOL (Associate Status), Process Metallurgist, has
a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He has had more than
30 years of laboratory and pilot scale research experience with the
United States Bureau of Mines and has authored or co-authored
over 20 publications. He has performed extensive studies on the
oxidation of carbonaceous materials, the agglomeration of fine
and coarse gold ores for heap leaching and the recovery of gold by
carbon adsorption and electro winning. His vast experience also
includes the construction and operation of a fused salt cell for the
recovery of zinc from a chloride bath and the agglomeration of
tailings to decrease acid drainage.
TERENCE E. ALBERT, Manager of Laboratory
Services and has been associated with KCA since 1991.
He brings to the KCA team laboratory test work
experience including flotation testing, gravity
concentration, and cyanidation. As manager of laboratory
operations, his primary functions are to oversee the
operation of the Reno laboratory, to set up field laboratory
projects for client companies, and to oversee the process
control of field operations. In addition to work on

Laboratory Statement of Qualifications
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)
1. List of Mineral Processing Services Offered:
Flotation: KCA typically runs flotation tests in
conjunction with the evaluation of gold ores. We
maintain one laboratory Denver flotation machine and a
one tonne/day pilot plant complete with ballmill, tailings
filters and a bank of 7 Denver #5 Sub-A cells.
Cyanide Leaching. KCA specializes in cyanide leaching
of gold and silver ores and maintains complete facilities
for bottle roll, agitated tank and column leach tests.
Gravity Concentration. KCA typically runs gravity
tests in conjunction with the evaluation of gold ores. We
have a laboratory size Knelson concentrator and two labsized
concentrating tables.
Bulk Grinding/ Sample Preparation. We have a 16” x
48” rod mill for preparation of large quantities of ground
pulp. We have a loose association with MEG labs in
Reno which maintains a large ceramic ball mill for
preparation of high-volume iron-free pulps.
Acid Leaching. KCA completed all aspects of lab testing
and complex flowsheet design of the Itos chloride leach
plant in Bolivia. At this plant lead, antimony, copper, tin
and silver are processed. KCA has also completed the
preliminary lab testing and flowsheet development
program for the Berenguela Peru copper-silvermanganese
deposit.
Controlled Reactor Leaching. Part of the Berenguela
program included a complete atmosphere-controlled,
instrumented 5-liter leach system for leaching with acidic
sulfur dioxide. Along with many other test parameters,
gas inflow and outflow were continuously monitored.
KCA is equipped to run this type of complex leaching test
on a variety of chemical systems.
Roasting. KCA maintains a Lindberg tube furnace, a set
of fire assay furnaces, and a 2-liter resistance heated
crucible furnace for running a variety of high temperature
reactions.
Analytical Support. Florin Analytical Laboratories is an
independently operated commercial laboratory operated
within the KCA lab complex. Florin maintains rigorous standards
of quality control to ensure its position as a high-quality
commercial laboratory. Florin equipment includes a P-E ICP; two
P-E AA machines, a – mercury analyzer, and a complete wet
chemistry laboratory.
2. Facilities Location and Ease of Access. KCA maintains a
United States Agricultural Department permit to import samples
from overseas. U.S. Customs can clear samples at Reno’s
International Airport. Trucks containing bulk samples can be
driven directly into KCA’s laboratory. We maintain a 30 x 40 ft x
20 ft high room with a smooth concrete floor specifically for the
handling of large bulk samples. Facilities include a 10 x 12 inch
jaw crusher for reduction of large samples.
KCA’s 40,000 square foot building occupies three acres of land.
Sufficient indoor and outdoor storage are available on-site so that
bulk samples can be retained for several years if necessary.
3. Names of Key Personnel. Professional staff is listed in other
areas of the Statement of Qualifications. The following key
people are not listed: Our lab assistant manager, Jim Defilippi, has
been with us for over 20 years and regularly travels to overseas
field locations to take samples or oversee tests. Two other
technicians, Ken Gonzales and Leo Toral, have been with us for
over ten years. Mike Bigelow, chief assayer for Florin, has been
with Florin or its predecessor company (Legend Labs) for 7 years.
These four people are thoroughly experienced in setting up and
supervising tests, and in taking and processing samples. In
addition to these persons, Florin labs has two experienced senior
instrument technicians.
4. Where are analytical facilities located? Florin Analytical
Labs is located on the premises of the KCA metallurgical testing
laboratory at KCA’s main office in Reno, Nevada. For outside
analytical work, various other commercial mineral analytical labs
are located in the Reno area.
5. List of clients and projects that became operating mines.
KCA has done the primary laboratory testing on at least 50
properties which became operating mines. A list of some of these
with references is attached.
6. Maximum Size of Samples? We can easily process samples
of 30 tonnes or more. Our largest crusher permits size reduction
of samples containing 10-inch rocks, and we can of course
manually reduce larger rocks. A large available floor area and a
specific bulk sample room allow us to do careful prepping and

Laboratory Statement of Qualifications
cone-and-quarter splitting of large samples.
We have two leach columns set up for gold cyanide or
acid copper leaching, which are 4 ft diameter and up to 20
ft high. These columns can hold 12 tonnes of ore.
11. Frequency of invoices and special billing requirements?
KCA normally invoices the client monthly and expects payment
within 30 days of issue of the faxed invoice. However, on intense
testing programs for clients who pay late, KCA may invoice more
often.
7. How long are samples retained and how are they
disposed of? KCA normally retains all samples for at
least one year. Prior to disposing of samples the client is
contacted to confirm his intentions. Disposition of
samples depends on the nature of the sample. Often the
sample is returned to the client. “Chain-of-Custody”
monitoring and hazardous waste disposal is available
where required. Liquid samples from testing are usually
reduced by evaporation, and solids disposed of in a
hazardous waste landfill. KCA follows all applicable
regulations and monitoring requirements.
8. What quality assurance procedures are employed?
All assays are duplicated to ensure that the highest quality
analyses are reported. For the analysis of solutions,
duplicate analyses are completed utilizing separate
techniques when possible. Standard addition analyses are
completed and analyses with spikes are run. In the case
of solid samples, duplicate pulps and or carbon samples
are submitted to two separate commercial labs for
analysis. As much as 10 percent of the solid samples are
re-submitted for assay to a third commercial laboratory.
As much of the data relates directly to bench-scale tests,
heads and tailings are checked routinely and compared
with other tests on similar type material. Mass balances
for each test are examined closely and tests re-run as
required.
9. How is project work scheduled and kept on track?
KCA labs has been providing commercial testing services
since 1972, and has developed a system of checks and
balances including regular review of activities and results
by senior management. Where necessary (but this is
unusual), a formal computer-based project scheduling
system can be employed.
10. How long does it take to issue reports? For typical
test programs, interim reports are issued weekly. KCA
normally tries to issue final reports within two to three
weeks after all final data are available. Because much of
the analysis is done in-house, data on complex benchscale
tests can be available within a day or two of test
completion.
For additional information please contact :
Kappes, Cassiday & Associates
7950 Security Circle, Reno, Nevada 89506
President: Daniel W. Kappes
Vice President: Michael W. Cassiday
Telephone: 775 972 7575
Facsimile: 775 972 4567
E-mail: kca@kcareno.com
Kappes, Cassiday & Associates Australia PTY LTD
13 Mumford Place
Balcatta (Perth), W.A. 6021
General Manager: Randall Pyper
Telephone: (08) 9240 8400
Facsimile: (08) 9240 8411
E-mail: kcaa@bigpond.com
Kappes, Cassiday Peru S.A.
Donatello 198 San Borja
Lima—Peru
Telephone: 511 476 0261
Facsimile: 511 476 0136
E-mail: kcaperu@amauta.rcp.net.pe

Laboratory Statement of Qualifications
SAMPLE SHIPPING
INFORMATION
Kappes, Cassiday & Associates (KCA) maintains a large
shipping and receiving department. When shipping large
sample groups, KCA can help arrange for consolidation
and freight forwarding. Shipments of samples to KCA
can be completed by air, ship or truck. When shipping
samples to KCA, the shipment should be consigned as
follows:
Kappes, Cassiday & Associates
7950 Security Circle
Reno, Nevada 89506 U.S.A
Attention: Terry Albert
Telephone: 775 972 7575
Facsimile: 775 972 4567
USDA Soil Permit No. S-56322
If shipping into the United States by air or truck, the material can
be shipped in bond to Reno, Nevada and then cleared through US
Customs in Reno. KCA or Griffin Transport can assist with any
documentation required for the shipment to clear Customs.
SAMPLE DISPOSAL
Samples received by Kappes, Cassiday & Associates are retained
by KCA for a period of not more than one year following completion
of the test program. Following project completion, at the request
of the client, the samples can be returned (at cost) to the
project location.
Disposal by KCA is completed utilizing Nevada Division of Environmental
Protection (NDEP) protocols. Typically the material is
characterized and then sent to the appropriate land-fill. KCA reserves
the right to back-charge the project for any reasonable cost
associated with waste disposal.
Geological Samples for Analysis Only. No
Commercial Value.
The shipment should be accompanied by a commercial
invoice. The commercial invoice should state that the
shipment is geologic material for analysis only. The
value identified on the commercial invoice (for U.S. Customs
Purposes) for the shipment should be US$0.10/
kilogram of material. KCA maintains a United States Department
of Agriculture permit that allows material to be
shipped to KCA from outside of the U.S.A. The permit
number is S-56322, and this number should be included
on the commercial invoice.
When the samples are in Reno, KCA’s Broker can be
notified so that the shipment can be cleared through Customs.
The information for KCA’s Broker is as follows:
Griffin Transport Services, Inc.
1095 Spice Islands Dr., #100
Sparks, Nevada 89431
Telephone: 775 331 8010
Facsimile: 775 331 6745
FAX pre-alerts for the shipment can be sent to KCA’s
offices in Reno as well as to Griffin Transport.

Laboratory Statement of Qualifications
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
KAPPES, CASSIDAY & ASSOCIATES specializes in an integrated, practical approach to mining projects, and can provide a
complete range of services from preliminary project evaluation through operations management. A list of projects that illustrates
KCA’s range of capabilities is presented below.
BERENGUELA—SOMINBESA
Dates: 1997 to present
Location: Peru, South America
Kappes, Cassiday & Associates is completing a detailed laboratory test program for this large manganese, copper and silver orebody.
Final feasibility studies will be completed on Berenguela in 2001, with production to commence by 2005.
LA QUINUA—Newmont
Dates: 1999 to present
Location: Peru, South America
KCA completed detailed laboratory testing to examine the relationship between heap stacking and permeability. KCA is currently
involved in an on-going field program at La Quinua that is examining field agglomeration, stacking and permeability.
PIERINA—Barrick
Dates: 1999
Location: Peru, South America
KCA’s laboratory completed agglomeration testwork on material from Pierina and examined the relationship between heap
stacking and permeability.
SAN MARTIN—Glamis
Dates: 1998 to present
Location: Honduras, Central America
KCA completed laboratory testwork which was then utilized in a feasibility that examined the economics of processing the material
at San Martin via heap leaching methods. The project is currently under construction and KCA is completing construction of
the Turnkey ADR Plant for Glamis. The project is set to begin production in late 2000.
YATELA—AngloGold
Dates: 1998 to Present
Location: Mali, West Africa
Kappes, Cassiday & Associates completed laboratory testwork that resulted in the completion of a full bankable feasibility study
that examined the amenability of processing the Yatela ore via heap leach methods. The project is currently under construction
and KCA has several long term contracts with AngloGold to act as owners representative during construction and start-up. The
project is set to begin production in early 2001.
TAPARKO—High River Gold
Dates: 1998-1999
Location: Burkino Faso, West Africa
KCA completed laboratory testwork on this material to determine its amenability to heap leaching or milling.
GROSS ROSEBEL—Cambior
Dates: 1998
Location: Suriname, South America
KCA completed laboratory scale testwork to determine the ores amenability to heap leaching.

Laboratory Statement of Qualifications
ITOS - Barex Empresa Minera, S.A. (BAREMSA) - COMIBOL
Dates: 1992 - present
Location: Bolivia, South America.
Itos is a US$ 8.5 million, 600 tonne/day agitated leach plant designed to recover precious metals and base metals from previously
processed flotation tailings using a complex acid leach process. Phase I of the project will recover silver and antimony. Later
phases of development will include the recovery of lead, copper, and tin. KCA’s role began with laboratory testing, process development,
and preparation of a feasibility study, and progressed to include all engineering, procurement, construction management,
start up services, and operations management. The project began operations in the middle of 1996.
TARKWA - Gold Fields Ghana
Dates: 1994 to 1999
Location: Ghana, West Africa
The Tarkwa Heap Leach Project is a US$ 120 million, 13 million ounce open pit gold mine expected to begin operation in January
1998. Phase I of the project, processed ore by heap leaching at a rate of 10,000 tpd; this was successfully doubled to
20,000 tpd 2 years after completion of Phase I. KCA’s involvement began with advising Gold Fields Laboratories regarding metallurgical
testing procedures, followed by preparation of a preliminary design and cost study for the heap leach operation. This
was followed by preparation of the heap leach portion of a bankable feasibility study. KCA then executed all process design,
from crushing through doré production. KCA is maintained engineers on site during the construction process to advise and assist
Gold Fields and their EPCM contractor. During commissioning, and for some time thereafter, KCA engineers trained Gold Fields
personnel in operation of the heap leach. Once routine operation has been achieved, KCA will provide periodic review and assistance
to optimize operations after routine operations were achieved.
MIZEK - Steppe Gold Resources Limited
Dates: 1996 to 1998
Location: Kazakstan
KCA conducted a complete laboratory testing program including bottle roll, agglomeration and column leach tests for this heap
leach project. KCA then completed a definitive feasibility study for a 4000 tonne per day heap leach facility. All elements of
mining, processing, and infrastructure were included in the study. KCA provided detailed engineering and construction management
services for site earthworks, including the leach pad and process ponds.
CHOQUELIMPIE - Sociedad Contractural Minera Vilacollo
Dates: 1992 - 1996
Location: Chile, South America
This 7 million tonne gold heap leach is located at an altitude of 4600 meters (15,000 feet) in northern Chile. KCA provided engineering,
procurement and construction management services for the washing of and subsequent gold recovery from the heap.
KCA was responsible for the complete metallurgical process design and management of commissioning operations. In October
1994, KCA entered into a 2-year contract to provide complete project management services. Precious metals production was on
track with projections.
SAN FRANCISCO - Geomaque Explorations Ltd.
MORIS - Manhattan Minerals
Dates: 1993 - 1994
Location: Northern Mexico
KCA completed laboratory studies for both of the operations in Northern Mexico, and continued providing services throughout
operations both at the lab in Reno as well as in the field.
KCA produced bankable feasibility studies for both of these heap leach projects located in Northern Mexico. Both projects are
currently in production.

Laboratory Statement of Qualifications
PUQUIO NORTE - Comsur, S. A.
Dates: 1992 - 1997
Location: Bolivia, South America
Laboratory testing and a complete feasibility study, including mining, for the installation of a 1000 tonne per day heap leach for
this project were conducted in 1992 and 1993. Expanded reserves changed the scope of the project from heap leaching to milling.
KCA then produced a bankable feasibility study, including mining, for the installation of a 1500 tonne per day CIL mill at Puquio
Norte. KCA provided design of the cyanidation circuit and fabricated the stripping and regeneration sections and provided installation
and start up supervision.
BREWERY CREEK - Loki Gold Corporation
Dates: 1990 - 1994
Location: Yukon Territory, Canada
KCA performed the laboratory testing on this 2.3 million tonne per year heap leach project including large (600 mm x 6 m) column
leach tests. KCA also completed the engineering and design of the processing facilities which were incorporated into a feasibility
study, and was responsible for the processing section of an initial environmental evaluation document that was required by
the local regulatory agencies. The harsh winter climate in the Yukon made the design of the heap leach facilities an interesting
challenge. This project began operation in the summer of 1996.
SANTA ROSA - Greenstone Resources Ltd.
Dates: 1991 - 1993
Location: Panama, Central America
KCA conducted a feasibility study for this 1.33 million metric tonne per year heap leach project. KCA working with several other
consulting firms, produced a final study that included all aspects of environmental permitting, geology, mining, processing and
infrastructure. KCA also provided construction management services for a small heap leach test pad that was constructed during
the "wet season" to determine the feasibility of constructing production leach pads during prolonged periods of wet weather in
Panama.
GIRILAMBONE - Nord Resources
Dates: 1991 - 1992
Location: Queensland, Australia
KCA conducted agglomeration tests and provided the design of the leach pads, solution storage ponds, conveyor stacking system
and heap piping for this copper heap leach project. A senior KCA engineer was onsite to assist with construction and start up of
the leaching and stacking facilities.
SANSU - Ashanti Goldfields Corp Ltd.
Dates: 1989 - 1990
Location: Ghana, West Africa
The Sansu mine is a 100,000 tonne per month gold heap leach operation located in a tropical, high rainfall environment. KCA
was responsible for all aspects of the testing, design, water balance and leaching concepts. Once the project was approved, KCA
provided design engineering, fabrication, procurement supervision, installation services, and a complete modular 125 cubic meter
per hour carbon recovery plant. Following start up, KCA provided one year of supervision/training.
POTOSI - Comsur, S.A.
Dates: 1985 - 1990
Location: Bolivia, South America
Potosi is a 1000-TPD dry grind/heap leach project. The process included a three-stage crushing circuit, a dry grind ball mill, an
agglomeration drum, a conveyor and stacking system, and a 150 cubic meter per hour Merrill-Crowe recovery plant. This heap
leach project is unique in that the mined ore is fine crushed to 8 mesh and then reduced in size by dry grinding to 20 mesh prior
to agglomeration for heap leaching. KCA provided the original design and construction supervision and the engineering supervision
for subsequent expansion from 500 to 1000 TPD. KCA also completed conceptual design for further expansion.

Laboratory Statement of Qualifications
QUALITY ASSURANCE
At KCA we understand that a valid metallurgical and
or analytical determination is the culmination of a
large number of steps and the efforts of a number of
people. KCA employs a quality control program that
emphasizes utilizing the correct techniques and routine
discussion of these techniques by our professionals
and technicians.
KCA extensively employs random duplication of assays,
spiking and common-element dilutions, and
analysis by alternative methods to ensure that the results
that we report are accurate and reliable.
Every solid sample that is submitted for assay from
KCA is submitted to two separate commercial laboratories.
The laboratories are currently ALS-Chemex in
Reno and Florin Analytical Services LLC (a member
of the Kappes, Cassiday Group of Companies).
Environmental analyses of solutions are completed
utilizing both EPA and NDEP certified laboratories.
Currently KCA utilizes Great Basin Environmental
and Sierra Nevada Environmental for this work. Florin
Analytical Services is currently seeking State of Nevada
Certification for metals. In addition, Florin is currently
seeking certification through ISO9000.
REPORTS OF TESTWORK
INVOICING
Kappes, Cassiday invoices projects on a monthly basis, typically
invoicing for work actually completed in the previous
month. Long term projects are billed on a time and materials
basis based upon percent completion. Laboratory programs are
typically bid/proposed on a “not to exceed” basis with change
orders being issued as the program develops, if necessary. Assay
analyses not completed by KCA in-house are added to the
invoices at cost. Shipping, handling and telephone charges are
added at cost and are detailed in the monthly invoices.
Payments are due within 30 days of the date noted on the invoice.
Payment schedules can be altered if approved by KCA in
advance.
KCA reserves the right to withhold any test data obtained if
payments are past due.
PROJECT SCHEDULING
Scheduling of Projects is coordinated by the Manager of Laboratory
Services. Larger projects are outlined and scheduled utilizing
a Gantt Chart (Microsoft Project). Each project is reviewed
weekly by the laboratory staff to ensure that all aspects
of the program are initiated and finalized in a timely manner.
Most projects are initiated within three (3) days of sample receipt,
and testing is started within one week of sample receipt.
KCA prides itself on preparing quality, complete metallurgical
test program reports. Draft reports are typically
available within two to three weeks after completion
of the program and final reports are completed
after review by the client company.
Interim reports are available on a weekly basis as the
program proceeds. These interim reports are required
as most metallurgical programs require a lot of discussions
between both the laboratory as well as the client/
project manager as the program develops and data are
received. By establishing good lines of communication
with the client, KCA feels that a higher quality product
can be achieved and that the final product will be of
greater value as the program develops and the project
develops into an operating mine.